The Boston Red Sox will be without Masataka Yoshida for the near future.

Yoshida has been out since spring training and is likely to return to Boston for further treatment of his shoulder.

“The throwing part of it didn’t go too well this week,” manager Alex Cora told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. “”This week it hasn’t been great.”

Yoshida appeared in 11 games for the Red Sox in spring training and posted a .286 average with Boston. However, he started dealing with pain from his surgically repaired shoulder and has been sidelined since.

The Red Sox are hoping to get Yoshida back into the lineup as soon as possible. Triston Casas is still struggling, and he doesn’t appear to be turning a corner with his performance.

If Yoshida were to return and simply DH, his shoulder injury wouldn’t be a big concern. However, the DH spot is currently held by Rafael Devers with Alex Bregman at third base. This means Yoshida will be utilized as an outfielder on most occasions.

Cora previously told reporters Yoshida was nowhere close to being ready for a rehab assignment, which significantly reduces the likelihood of him playing in the first half of the season.

With the American League East division as tight as it is at the top, and the Red Sox just one game out of first place after Wednesday’s games, Boston can’t continue to wait much longer for Yoshida’s return before exploring external moves.